Chapter 4

    Laura called Sarah that night. “Hi, it’s me,” she said as she flopped on her bed, feeling completely drained.

    “Hey, what’s up? I was wondering when I was going to hear from you.”

    “I know, I’m sorry. Work has been nuts again. More overtime.” She grabbed a cushion and held it to her stomach. Jasper jumped up next to her, settling down on her comforter.

    “Again? Is she ever going to pay you for all that overtime?”

    “It doesn’t work like that,” Laura said. “I have to prove myself, work my way up the ladder. This is part of paying my dues.”

    Sarah scoffed. “It sounds like she’s getting free labor for Kinetic Advertising and taking advantage of someone younger than her, who’s just building their career, just because she can intimidate them.”

    “Yeah, that probably sums it up. She doesn’t even say thanks or offer to get dinner in.” Laura was twisting her hair with her fingers.

    “You know, I’m starting to think less that she’s making you prove yourself, and more that she’s using you and holding you down.”

    “Why would she do that?”

    “Maybe she’s threatened.”

    “By me? That’s ridiculous,” Laura said, sitting up on the bed. “I’m just a lowly worker-bee.”

    “Who works like a dog, has good ideas, and can understand and apply good marketing techniques for clients. And you’re pretty and have a nice figure. Competitive, insecure women hate all that.”

    Laura couldn’t help but smile at the pep talk. “I do work hard, and I know my stuff. I love this kind of work. But you’ve seen her. Raquel Sheridan is hot. A real Jessica Rabbit. Redhead and all. All polished and expensively put together and sultry. I’m more plain and a few pounds heavier than I should be,” she said, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. “And she’s a partner in the firm. She couldn’t possibly be threatened by me.”

    “You’d be surprised. Keeping you from owning your abilities and talents allows her to feel superior. Plus, you’re not plain, you’re just not flashy and in your-face about your attractiveness.”

    “I don’t know…”

    “You know a lot of men prefer a girl who is more natural-looking and approachable. Someone like Raquel comes across as self-involved, shallow, and arrogant, not to mention a high maintenance plastic surgery addict.” Sarah was getting herself worked up now. “She’s obviously fake. Fake boobs. Fake nails. Fake tan. Oh yeah, and her liberal use of Botox. Ugh.”

    “Have you seen the women in Manhattan? It’s a cultural norm.”

    “An even better reason not to drink that Kool-Aid. It’s poison. Be naturally beautiful and stand out by not trying to outdo everyone else in that twisted competition.”

    “Yeah, I wouldn’t. Couldn’t afford it if I wanted to,” Laura said jokingly, leaning forward and giving Jasper a scratch behind the ears.

    “Ha ha ha,” Sarah said, “you know I’d punch your lights out if you ever got any of those ideas in your head.”

    “Ditto, dear,” she replied.

    “Good. Now that we have that cleared up, you need to show your worth in the marketing world, make your talent undeniable and impossible to be ignored.”

    “But she also has teeth and knows how to use them,” she said as she now sat cross-legged on the bed. “I’m scared about crossing her. She’ll smack me down.” She bit her nails. A bad habit that crept up whenever she was especially nervous or stressed.

    “Then, you need to be sneaky about it. Outshine her. But don’t let her see you coming.”

    “I need this job though,” Laura said, examining her other nails. “It’s pretty cutthroat out there in the job market.”

    “You can’t let this go on forever you know,” Sarah chided her.

    “I know. Listen, there’s something else I want to tell you.”

    “Okay, I’m listening.”

    “I saw him again,” she said, waiting for a reaction.

    “Oh, do tell!”

    Laura relayed the encounter at Coffee Haven.

    “Wow, he’s definitely interested. He’s stalking you. How romantic!”

    “Or scary?”

    “I don’t think so, he’s not some random creep off the street. He made sure you knew who he was. He’s an established businessman in the public eye. Besides, do you get a bad vibe from him?”

    “No, just the opposite in fact. That morning I had a dream about him.”

    She blushed a little at the memory of it.

    “Ooh, a good dream was it?” she asked.

    “Pretty good, definitely romantic. I woke up before it went too far though.”

    “Bummer.”

    “Tell me about it. I even tried to get back to sleep to pick up where it left off, but no luck.”

    “Interesting. And then you bumped into him that same day? Sounds like the fates are trying to get you two together.”

    “Maybe,” she said, staring down at Jasper. “Maybe I should just stick to Jasper. He’s the only man I really feel safe with.”

    “Um, yeah, I think you’ll find a bit more fulfillment with someone like your handsome Greek suitor. You should call him.”

    “No way,” she said, shaking her head. “He can call me. Otherwise I'll look desperate.”

    “Nonsense, he went out of his way to see you again. That took guts. And determination.”

    “I just can’t do it. I’ll wait for him to call.”

    Sarah sighed. “You know, waiting around for things to happen to you isn’t always the best approach.”

    “Says she who keeps making googly-eyes at Barry, but won’t do anything else about it.”

    “Touché,” Sarah said. “Okay, so we both need to work on going after what we want.”

    “So you do want him!”

    Sarah sidestepped the comment. “Ahem, I meant that we need to come out of our shells a bit more. That’s the New York way, right? Take a big bite out of that apple?”

    “Big bite,” Laura repeated, giggling. “Of a juicy, mouthwatering apple.”

    “Now you’re talking.”